Frugal Cleaning Recipes
Homemade Glass Cleaner
Ingredients
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar
Using isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar together makes a quickly evaporating spray glass and mirror cleaner that competes with national brands. This can also be used to give a nice shine to hard tiles, chrome, and other surfaces.
All Natural Bleach
Lemon or Lemon Juice
To Whiten Clothes
Add a cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to boost the whitening action of your laundry detergent.
To Remove Stains from Clothing
Pour lemon juice over the stain. Then, rub the area with salt; and place the garment out in the sun for several hours. Wash as usual.
To Remove Stains from Countertops and Other Hard Surfaces
Create a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Then, apply the mixture to the stain, and allow it to sit for several hours. Wipe clean, and the stain should be gone.
Note: Some stains may require a second treatment.
Laundry Cleaner
Goto this website for a great recipe, pictures and breakdown of cost:
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Rust Remover Recipe
Ingredients
White vinegar
Water
1. Apply undiluted white vinegar to the rust by spraying or dabbing it on (if the object is large), or by submerging the rusted object in vinegar (if the object is small).
2. Allow the vinegar to soak in for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the object off; and dry thoroughly.
3. Repeat the process, if rust remains.
Rust Remover Recipe II
Ingredients
Borax
Lemon juice
1. Mix together equal parts Borax and lemon juice.
2. Apply the resulting solution to the rust by spraying or dabbing it on (if the object is large), or by submerging the object in a bath of the solution (if the object is small).
3. Allow the solution to soak in for 30 minutes. Then, rinse the object off; and dry thoroughly.
4. Repeat the process, if rust remains.
Clean and Deodorize Your Garbage Disposal
Is a stinky disposal running you out of the kitchen? End the suffering with this low-cost fix.
Peel a lemon.
Put the peel down the drain, and run the disposal for several minutes. The limonene – a naturally occurring chemical in the peel– will dissolve built up food, kill odor-causing bacteria, and leave your kitchen smelling lemony fresh.
If you don't have a lemon, try an orange instead.
Furniture Polish Recipe
White vinegar
Lemon juice
1. Combine equal parts white vinegar and lemon juice in a bowl or spray bottle.
2. Use a clean cloth to rub a small amount of the polish into your furniture.
3. Wipe dry with another cloth.
Carpet Deodorizer
Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet, and allow it to sit for 15 minutes or longer. Then, vacuum it up, and the smell will be gone!
How To Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap
Pour one tablespoon of liquid hand soap into an empty foaming soap dispenser.
Fill the rest of the dispenser with warm water (leaving a little space at the top of the container).
Screw on the lid and shake.
Mold and Mildew Remover
Fill a spray bottle with equal parts white vinegar and water and start cleaning.
Another cleaning option: Soak a sponge in the vinegar/water solution, and wipe down any areas with mold or mildew growth.
Extra Tip - take pinking shears and cut across the bottom of you shower liner to help prevent the build of mold and mildew.
(mold and mildew builds in the seam of the shower liner)
Toilet Cleaner
For a clean toilet without a lot of fuss, just pour a couple cups of vinegar into the toilet before bed, swish it with a toilet brush in the morning, and flush.
Mineral Deposit Removal
Fill a small, plastic bag half full with vinegar; rubber band the bag over your showerhead; and leave it in place for an hour or two. Then, remove the bag; and polish the head with a cloth.
This same method can be used to remove mineral deposits from faucets.
Microwave Oven Cleaner
fill a microwave-safe bowl with a mixture of half vinegar and half water, and nuke it for two minutes. Then, dip a sponge into the vinegar-water solution, and use it to wipe the food off of the walls of the microwave. Food falls off, very simple.
Dishwasher Rinse Agent Substitute
Cheap alternative: vinegar.
Here's How to Make the Switch to Vinegar:
1. Finish using up any commerical rinse agent that remains in your dishwasher.
2. Then, unscrew the cap from your dishwasher's rinse agent dispenser, and fill the well with white vinegar.
3. Replace the cap, and run your dishwasher as usual.
4. Refill the dispenser as needed.
Dishwasher looking a bit dirty? Fill the detergent dispenser with vinegar (no detergent at all), and run it through a cycle. This will clean the wash tub, racks and even the heating elements.
Air Freshener
Vinegar
To freshen rooms, carpet, shoes, trash cans, diaper pails and other sprayable surfaces:
Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, and spritz wherever a freshening is needed. It'll neutralize the odor.
Q: Won't this leave my home smelling like vinegar?
A: No. The vinegar smell will vanish as soon as it dries.